Gone Fishin'

I have a love/hate relationship with fishing...in fact, I haven't really fished since I was very young. My grandparents lived on a beautiful lake outside Divide, Colorado (you could see Pike's Peak from their deck) and so we would go fishing with my Grandpa Burl when we were visiting out there. The last time I remember doing that, however, the only thing I caught...was me. I got the rod all ready, flung it back so as to cast the line into the water, and hit the release button on the line too quickly. The only thing the hook caught on that day was my back. I have not been fishing since.

At least for fish.

A devotional I read recently by J. D. Walt brought up the question of fishing—specifically, why does the main metaphor change from the Old Testament (shepherds) to the New (fishermen)? Why are most of the disciples Jesus chooses fishermen? Why is there not a single shepherd in the bunch? Walt's conclusion is that while shepherds tend the flock and take care of those they already have, Jesus had a different goal in mind for the disciples and for us. He wants us to go fishing. He wants us to be fishers of people. Even when Jesus does use the image of a shepherd, it's of one going out to find the sheep that has wandered off, the one that is lost.

Jesus is primarily a fisherman, not a shepherd. (Side note: he is the "good shepherd," but that's still not his primary identity.)

And he calls us to do the same. Only, for this fishing, you won't need a rod or a reel. Or even water.

This coming Sunday is Easter—traditionally, a high traffic time in the life of the church. The following Sunday is often known as "low Sunday," not only to describe the attendance in comparison to Easter, but also to describe the mood of many pastors when people don't show up again after Easter. The problem is we too often sit around and wait for people to come to us, to visit our buildings, to "try out" our services, when what Jesus calls us to do is to go out fishing. Invite people. Throw out a line and see what you can catch. Reel 'em in, don't just wait for them to jump into the boat. When's the last time you went fishing?

Maybe more to the point and to the time: who have you personally invited to Easter services this year? Anyone? Who is in need of a word of hope, a touch of grace, a fellowship of mercy? You've got 3 days left (from when this is written), plenty of time yet to do what Jesus called us to do and go fishing.

Who will you "catch"? Who will you invite?

I've got a pastor friend, by the way, who takes his church on fishing retreats because, as he often told me, "Jesus didn't hang out with golfers." Along the way, his church learns about fishing for people. I think he's on to something!